title: Incidental findings in youths volunteering for brain MRI research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MRIs are obtained in research in healthy and clinical populations, and incidental findings have been reported. Most studies have examined adults with variability in parameters of image acquisition and clinical measures available. We conducted a prospective study of youths and documented the frequency and concomitants of incidental findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Youths (n = 1400) with an age range from 8-23 years were imaged on the same 3T scanner, with a standard acquisition protocol providing 1.0 mm(3) isotropic resolution of anatomic scans. All scans were reviewed by an experienced board-certified neuroradiologist and were categorized into 3 groups: 1) normal: no incidental findings; 2) coincidental: incidental finding(s) were noted, further reviewed with an experienced pediatric neuroradiologist, but were of no clinical significance; 3) incidental findings that on further review were considered to have potential clinical significance and participants were referred for appropriate clinical follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 148 incidental findings (10.6% of sample) were noted, and of these, 12 required clinical follow-up. Incidental findings were not related to age. However, whites had a higher incidence of pineal cysts, and males had a higher incidence of cavum septum pellucidum, which was associated with psychosis-related symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidental findings, moderated by race and sex, occur in approximately one-tenth of participants volunteering for pediatric research, with few requiring follow-up. The incidence supports a 2-tiered approach of neuroradiologic reading and clinical input to determine the potential significance of incidental findings detected on research MR imaging scans.
authors.affiliation: Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaltman
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Melhem
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruparel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prabhakaran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yodh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hakonarson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satterthwaite
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014838:Volunteers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult